Acculturation matters in the relation between ambivalence over emotional expressions and well-being among Chinese American breast cancer survivors

Purpose

Ambivalence over emotional expression (AEE) is the inner conflict of desiring emotion expression and fearing consequence of emotion expression. Few studies to date have examined the effects of AEE within an ethnic group that prioritizes emotional self-control. The present study examined the associations between AEE and well-being (viz., quality of life and depressive symptoms) as a function of acculturation among a sample of Chinese American breast cancer survivors.

Methods

Ninety-six Chinese breast cancer survivors (M _age = 54.64 years old, SD = 7.98) were recruited from Southern California. Participants filled out a paper-pen questionnaire containing the Ambivalence over Emotional Expression Questionnaire (AEQ), the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast (FACT-B), and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale—Short Form (CESD-10).

Results

Acculturation was a statistically significant moderator of the relations between AEE and depressive symptoms, and a statistically marginally significant moderator of the relations between AEE and quality of life. Simple slopes revealed that AEE was negatively associated with quality of life (B = ?.45, p < .001) and depressive symptoms (B = .20, p < .001) for women with high acculturation, but not associated for women with low acculturation (Bs = ?.15 and .04, ps > .05, for quality of life and depressive symptoms, respectively).

Conclusions

These results suggest that less acculturated Chinese breast cancer survivors are protected by Chinese cultural values of emotional self-control and restraint, and thus do not experience the detrimental effects of AEE on their depressive symptoms and quality of life. Implications are discussed.

     

Acculturation, social support, and quality of life for Korean immigrant breast and gynecological cancer survivors

Objectives. This study examines the direct and/or indirect pathways among acculturation, social support, depressive symptoms, and quality of life (QOL) for Korean immigrant breast and gynecological cancer survivors.

Design. The QOL-Cancer Survivor measure was translated and then administered to 51 survivors. This tool measured acculturation by assessing westernization, language barriers, and length of stay. In addition, the Brief Symptom Inventory-18 was used to assess depressive symptoms. Social support components were conceptualized as comprising both functional social support and social network structures.

Results. Structural equation modeling identified significant relationships among acculturation, social support, depressive symptoms, and QOL. Higher acculturation was associated with positive network structures (larger network size, diversity, and closer social ties) and lower depressive symptoms, which in turn contributed to better QOL. Simultaneously, positive social network structures strongly correlated with better emotional support and, thus, influenced lower depressive symptoms.

Conclusions. The evidence that acculturation influences QOL through social support for Korean immigrant cancer survivors should serve as a rationale for developing psychosocial interventions that enhance immigrant cancer survivors’ social participation and adjustment in the unfamiliar US environment.     

Different pathways in social support and quality of life between Korean American and Korean breast and gynecological cancer survivors

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate: (1) how social support influences quality of life (QOL) and (2) whether or not the pathways for predicting QOL outcomes differ between Korean American and Korean survivors of breast and gynecological cancer. METHOD: To identify multiple dimensions of health status and psychosocial outcomes, two standardized QOL and psychological distress measures were administered to 51 Korean Americans and 110 Koreans. Social support was measured by items assessing functional social support and social network structures. Hierarchical multiple regression and path analyses were employed to investigate the effects of social support on outcomes and to compare between Korean Americans and Koreans. RESULTS: The findings indicate that functional social support directly influences QOL and psychological distress, and social network structures are directly and/or indirectly associated with outcomes. Moreover, the two groups showed different pathways from social support to outcomes. CONCLUSION: This study provides practical research information by illuminating the relationships between social support components influencing QOL for Korean American and Korean survivors. This study may increase the utility and efficacy of the research and interventions to enhance cancer survivors' social participation and to diminish barriers to follow-up care, considering the different living conditions between the United States and Korea.     

The relationship of two dimensions of social support to the psychological well-being and social functioning of women with advanced breast cancer

Of interest to the field is the mechanism through which social support acts as a resistance resource for individuals undergoing stressful life circumstances. Women with advanced breast cancer (N = 86) were interviewed to determine how their outlook on life and social functioning were affected by the social support they received. Emotional support provided by the family was predicted to affect the woman's sense of well-being whereas the opportunities for social exchange provided by one's social activities were expected to effect the woman's social functioning. Consistent with the predictions, the data indicate that social support is multidimensional. Emotional support was strongly related to one's outlook. However, one's opportunities for social exchange affect not only one's social functioning, but also one's outlook on life, suggesting an interactive process whereby family support improves outlook, both outlook and opportunities for social exchange are related to one's sense of social functioning. These data explain the erosion of social support during life-threatening illness such as cancer as a result of the limitations imposed by the illness on one's opportunities for social exchange.     

校外青少年社会支持与总体幸福感关系的调查

目的了解云南昆明、德宏两地校外青少年社会支持与总体幸福感之间的关系,旨在为制定相应的干预措施提供科学依据。方法采用社会支持评定量表（SSRS）和总体幸福感量表（GWB）,对工厂、发廊、歌厅、网吧、宾馆5类场所15～24岁外来务工青少年进行自填调查,共获有效问卷542份。结果校外青少年在支持总分上,双亲家庭〉单亲家庭（t=2．97,P〈0．01）;工厂〉宾馆〉网吧〉美容美发〉歌舞厅（F=3．77,P〈0．01）;大专〉高中〉初中（F=3．79,P〈0．05）。总体幸福感：男生〉女生（t=2．58,P〈0．01）。社会支持总分、客观支持、主观支持及支持的利用度与总体幸福感呈正相关（r值分别为0．22、0．17、0．18、0．12,P〈0．05）。结论社会支持是主观幸福感的预测因素。帮助校外青少年学会主动寻求支持,增强支持的利用度,可提高他们的总体幸福感水平。     

Social support and psychological well-being in breast cancer patients

many aspects of the role of social support in psychological adaptation to illness have been investigated using different definitions of the construct. The present study focused on the role of instrumental social support and one aspect of emotional social support, namely supportive communication. In addition, the differential role of support provided in these areas by the spouse and significant others (SO) was examined. Subjects were 76 post-mastectomy breast cancer patients treated at a University Hospital in Istanbul. Patients were administered Spielberger's State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and the Beck Depression Inventory, and were interviewed using a structured interview developed by the authors. Results showed that supportive communication with the spouse, positive reaction of the spouse to mastectomy, marital satisfaction and open discussion of emotions concerning cancer were positively associated with psychological well-being. Instrumental support from the spouse or SO was not related to depression or anxiety.     

Directionality of the relationship between social well-being and subjective well-being: evidence from a 20-year longitudinal study

Purpose

Self-determination theory suggests that psycho-social well-being prospectively predicts subjective well-being. In contrast, the broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions suggests that subjective well-being has a positive impact on subsequent levels of psycho-social well-being. The present study sought to empirically disentangle the directionality of the relationship between subjective well-being and social well-being over time.

Methods

The study used three waves of survey data, with intervals of 10 years, from the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) project, a representative longitudinal panel study of American adults (N?=?2732). Cross-lagged panel modeling was used for data analysis.

Results

The results revealed that social well-being predicted increases in subsequent subjective well-being, whereas subjective well-being did not prospectively predict social well-being. Social well-being also demonstrated more stability over time than did subjective well-being.

Conclusion

These findings suggest that optimal social functioning is more likely to be an antecedent to subjective well-being, not the other way around. The results are consistent with predictions guided by self-determination theory.

     

Self-efficacy moderates the relationship between health comparisons and social exclusion: results of the German ageing survey

Background

Little is known about the consequences of health comparisons. Negative health comparisons might, for example, result in emotions such as anger or frustration. These negative emotions might intensify feelings of social exclusion. Thus, the objective of the current study was to investigate whether health comparisons are associated with social exclusion. Moreover, it was examined whether the relation between health comparisons and social exclusion is moderated by self-efficacy.

Methods

We analyzed cross-sectional data of N?=?7838 individuals from the German Ageing Survey. The German Ageing Survey is a representative sample of community-residing individuals aged 40 and over. An established social exclusion scale was used. The degree of self-efficacy was measured according to Schwarzer and Jerusalem. Health comparisons were measured with the question “How would you rate your health compared with other people your age” (Much better; somewhat better; the same; somewhat worse, much worse).

Results

Multiple linear regressions revealed that negative health comparisons were associated with feelings of social exclusion in men, but not women. Furthermore, positive health comparisons were weakly associated with decreased feelings of social exclusion in men. The association between negative as well as positive health comparisons and social exclusion in men was significantly moderated by self-efficacy.

Conclusions

The findings of the present study suggests that negative health comparisons are associated with feelings of social exclusion in men. In conclusion, comparison effects are not symmetric and predominantly upwards among men in the second half of life. Strengthening self-efficacy might be fruitful for attenuating this relationship.

     

消防员社会支持与工作倦怠和创伤性应激障碍的关系

摘要:目的　探讨我国消防员社会支持、工作倦怠和创伤后应激障碍（PTSD）三者之间的关系。方法　本研究采用自编的消防员社会支持问卷、创伤后应激障碍测查量表（PCL-C）、事件影响量表（IES-R）以及工作倦怠问卷（CMBI）,以全国1 379名一线消防员为被试进行问卷调查。结果　PTSD与工作倦怠呈显著正相关;社会支持与工作倦怠呈显著负相关;社会支持与PTSD呈显著负相关;当社会支持作为自变量,PTSD可以作为社会支持影响工作倦怠的中介变量,起到部分中介作用,且社会支持中的战友支持和组织支持主要是通过PTSD中的闯入和唤醒维度来影响工作倦怠的。结论　PTSD是社会支持影响工作倦怠的中介变量。研究结果可作为建立消防员社会心理支持系统的参考和借鉴。     

社会支持与部队官兵人格特征关系研究

目的 探讨部队官兵社会支持获得情况及其与人格的关系.方法 采用社会支持评定量表、艾森克人格问卷对某部队官兵253人进行测试.结果 对该部队官兵社会支持与军人常模进行比较发现,部队官兵的客观支持得分低于军人常模,支持利用度得分高于军人常模,差异有统计学意义.不同军龄在客观支持、对社会支持的利用度方面,差异有统计学意义.对社会支持和人格特征进行相关分析发现,EPQ人格维度中,N维度与支持利用度,P维度与客观支持存在显著相关关系.结论 该部队官兵能够有效地利用社会支持来帮助保护自己的身心健康,社会支持对士兵的人格发展有着重要的作用.     

离退休老干部主观幸福感、自尊和社会支持关系研究

目的探讨自尊及社会支持等因素对军队离退休老干部主观幸福感的影响。方法采用问卷方式调查203例居住于城市的军队离退休老干部,影响因素涵盖年龄、性别、受教育程度、家庭结构、收入情况、家庭氛围、自评健康状况、领悟社会支持及自尊等。数据采用SPSS 14.0和AMOS 6.0统计软件进行统计分析。结果自尊和社会支持直接影响军队离退休老干部的主观幸福感,社会支持还通过自尊产生间接影响;家庭气氛、婚姻状况、自评健康状况、受教育程度分别通过社会支持和自尊对主观幸福感产生间接影响;自尊及社会支持可用来预测军队离退休干部的主观幸福感（标准化回归系数分别为-0.651和0.119）,可解释总变异的48.6%。结论自尊及社会支持对军队离退休老干部的主观幸福感产生直接影响,可作为评价军队离退休老干部主观幸福感的预测指标。     

Perceived neighborhood social cohesion moderates the relationship between neighborhood structural disadvantage and adolescent depressive symptoms

There is a dearth of research exploring the moderating role of the social environment on neighborhood structural disadvantage and depressive symptoms, particularly among adolescents. Therefore, we examined if adolescent perceptions of neighborhood social cohesion and safety moderated the association between neighborhood structural disadvantage and adolescent depressive symptoms. This cross-sectional study used data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health). The study sample consisted of 12,105 adolescents enrolled in 9th–12th grades during the 1994–1995 school year across the United States (U.S.). Mixed effects multilevel modeling was used to determine if adolescent perceptions of neighborhoods moderated the relationship between neighborhood structural disadvantage and adolescent depressive symptoms. Results showed that perceived neighborhood social cohesion moderated the relationship between neighborhood structural disadvantage and adolescent depressive symptoms (p ≤ 0.001). At higher levels of perceived neighborhood social cohesion, neighborhood structural disadvantage was associated with decreased depressive symptoms. Findings suggest that improving perceived neighborhood social cohesion may decrease adolescent depressive symptoms, particularly in neighborhoods with high disadvantage. This aspect of the neighborhood social environment may serve as a target for structural and other interventions to address the growing burden of depression among adolescents.     

农民工社会支持及人格与主观幸福感关系

目的 了解农民工社会支持、人格与其主观幸福感的关系及作用机制。方法 采用社会支持量表、艾森克人格问卷及主观幸福感量表对陕西省西安市245名农民工及农民工主要来源地204名留守农民进行问卷调查。结果 农民工主观支持、主观幸福感、人格内外向性分别为(22.35±4.70)、(14.84±6.15)、(11.35±3.59)分,主观支持与主观幸福感呈明显正相关关系(r=0.225,P(0.001);人格内外向性与主观支持呈明显正相关关系(r=0.151,P<0.05);主观支持对主观幸福感有显著预测作用;人格内外向性通过主观支持的中介作用影响主观幸福感。结论 农民工主观幸福感不强,主观支持、人格特质是其影响因素。     

Employment characteristics, social support and the well-being of women

The impact of employment on the well-being of women is examined using a theoretical framework which is based on the premise that social roles and qualities of roles affect well-being through their impact on self-esteem and social support. The nature and magnitude of the effects of employment on well-being are expected to vary according to the characteristics of employment. Two aspects of the nature of work are examined, autonomy and complexity. Data are based on a probability sample of adult employed women (N = 534). Results indicate that both dimensions of employment characteristics have positive effects on social support. Social support and employment characteristics also directly affect well-being.     

职业女性工作家庭冲突状况及其与社会支持和主观幸福感的关系

目的 了解职业女性工作家庭冲突状况及其与社会支持、主观幸福感的关系,为指导职业女性职业生涯发展、提升家庭生活质量提供依据.方法 采用Carlson(2000)编制的工作家庭冲突量表(the work Family Conflict Inventory,WFCI)的中文修订版、社会支持评定量表、Diener人(1985)编制的主观幸福感问卷,对全国在岗的230名职业女性进行问卷调查.结果 职业女性面临较普遍的工作家庭冲突;工作家庭冲突显著影响职业女性的主观幸福感,基于时间的工作-家庭冲突与基于压力的工作-家庭冲突对其主观幸福感有非常显著的影响(t=-2.61,P ＜0.01;t=-0.129,P ＜0.05):负向作用于主观幸福感;社会支持与主观幸福感显著相关(r =0.223,P＜0.01);社会支持对工作家庭冲突、主观幸福感之间有一定的调节作用,达到显著水平(β=0.753,P＜0.01).结论 职业女性存在较普遍的工作家庭冲突,工作家庭冲突对其主观幸福感有负面影响,社会支持能提升其主观幸福感,社会支持对工作家庭冲突与主观幸福感之间有一定的调节作用.     

中文版感知社会支持量表在老年癌症患者中的信效度分析

目的 检验中文版感知社会支持量表（the multidimensional scale of perceived social support, MSPSS）在老年癌症患者中应用的信效度。方法 采用整群抽样的方法,使用中文版感知社会支持量表对老年癌症患者进行调查,并对结果进行信效度检验。结果 共收到有效问卷520份,中文版感知社会支持量表的Cronbach α系数为0.877;探索性因子中共提取出公因子3个,累积方差贡献率为69.5%;通过验证性因子分析得出GFI、CFI、IFI指标范围在0.855～0.921之间。结论 中文版社会支持量表在老年癌症患者中应用具有良好的信效度,可用于评估该人群感知社会支持水平。     

The relationship between social capital, social support and the adequate use of prenatal care

This study investigated the relationship between social capital and social support and the adequate use of prenatal care. A follow-up study involving 1,485 pregnant women was conducted in two cities in the Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil. Demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, social support and social capital data were collected during the first trimester of pregnancy. The post-partum period included information on levels of prenatal care utilization, social networks, parity, obstetric and gestational risk and prenatal care attendance. Hierarchized multinomial logistic regression was used in the statistical analysis. Prenatal care use above adequate levels was associated with high social capital at the city level (aggregated social capital), socioeconomic status and working during pregnancy. Lower non-aggregated contextual and compositional social capital, gestational risk and pattern of prenatal care were associated with inadequate prenatal care utilization. Contextual social capital and social support were found to be social determinants for the appropriate use of prenatal care.